Showy parades, thousands of beads—these are what revelers expect during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. But there’s another important component of the celebration, and that’s King Cake.
The history of King Cake goes back to NOLA’s early residents who celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany, honoring the wise men bearing gifts for the infant Jesus, 12 days after Christmas. Part of the feast, known as Kings’ Day, was the baking of a special cake in their honor.
The tradition continues, and is now expanded into the Mardi Gras celebration as well. The “cake” is really a sweet Danish bread dough that is braided and baked with a small plastic baby hidden inside. The lucky person who receives the piece of cake with the baby is honored as the king or queen, and is responsible for supplying the cake for the next party. Over the years, King Cakes have become more and more elaborate, coming in a vast array of flavors, always decorated in the Mardi Gras’ colors of purple, green and gold. You’ll find them at bakeries throughout the area. Here are a few of the better-known ones.
Gambino’s Bakery, which calls itself the “King of King Cakes,” has been baking this specialty since 1949. Made by hand, fresh daily, the cake’s sweet dough is infused with cinnamon, covered with a fondant icing and topped with colorful sugars. Fillings are optional. If you mail order, it arrives with a Mardi Gras poster and history of the cake.
Gambino’s Bakery
4821 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Metarie, LA
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Traditional cake, $18.50; single-filling, $24.50
504-885-7500
Cannata’s King Cakes boasts a whopping 60 flavors of cake, including apple cinnamon pecan, strawberry cream cheese and a King Creole pecan. They’re all made from scratch and are baked round-the-clock during festival season. Cannata’s specializes in mail orders.
Cannata’s King Cakes
Prices from $37.99 – $59.99
985-873-9118
Maurice French Pastries adds a French twist to the classic King Cake. It offers four varieties in four different sizes. Ponchatoula is filled with Bavarian cream, fresh strawberries, Chantilly cream and almonds. Another has chocolate custard flavored with Kentucky bourbon, pecans and Chantilly cream. A praline cream cake and Banana Foster cake round out the offerings. Cakes are available at its two stores; the bakery does not ship them.
Maruice French Pastries
3501 Hessmer, Metarie, LA
Monday – Saturday, 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
504-885-1526
4949 W. Napoleon, Metarie, LA
Tuesday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
504-455-0830
You can’t do Mardi Gras without King Cake—or without a great place to stay. We’ve still got rooms available, so give us a call today!